Damaging winds from Hurricane Florence moving inland, water also a threat

The National Hurricane Center says the center of Florence will move over southern North Carolina Thursday, but is expected to make “a slow motion over eastern South Carolina” Friday night through Saturday.

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The National Hurricane Center says the center of Florence will move over southern North Carolina Thursday, but is expected to make “a slow motion over eastern South Carolina” Friday night through Saturday.

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“Further strengthening is anticipated and Florence is expected to be an extremely dangerous major hurricane through Thursday,” the NHC said in a statement.

“Storm-force winds” are expected to hit North Carolina beginning 8 a.m. Thursday, and some eastern counties could see as much as 12 inches of rain in the four days that follow, the National Weather Service said in its Monday morning update.

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“We face three critical threats from Florence: ocean surge along our coast, strong winds, and inland flooding from heavy rain,” N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper said in a statement Monday. “Wherever you live in North Carolina, you need to get ready for this storm now and you need to evacuate if asked to.”

Florence was more than 400 miles wide early Monday, according to the NWS.

Once the storm makes landfall, it will “sit over the Carolinas for some time,” according to WSOC meteorologist John Ahrens. “This will likely be a big problem not just Thursday but potentially through the entire weekend. Some computer models keep the storm just offshore though, which would lessen the local impact.”

There’s a hurricane coming, and you have questions. How much food should you stock up? What needs to be moved out of your yard? And what room of the house is the safest? Here are five things you definitely should do if there’s a hurricane warning.

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Hurricane-force winds are extending out up to 40 miles away from Hurricane Florence’s center, and “tropical-storm-force winds” are being felt up to 150 miles out, the NHC said.

The first of the gusts could arrive in North Carolina at 8 p.m. Wednesday, the center said.

Governors in North and South Carolina declared states of emergency in advance of the storm, which already was creating dangerous conditions in waters off the coast. The National Weather Service reported Sunday that more than 20 people had to be pulled from the ocean off Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach, The Wilmington Star reported.

The NC Ferry Division announced Sunday that is was canceling some ferries to Hatteras and Ocracoke islands “due to preparation for possible severe weather.” NCDOT said the ferries would be aiding in evacuation.

High risk of rip currents today, and throughout the week. Numerous rescues reported at our beaches yesterday, along with strong rips. Swell from Florence creating dangerous surf conditions across the coast. https://t.co/H1WVqQdVPD

“There is an increasing risk of coastal storm surge flooding and freshwater flooding from heavy prolonged rain when the hurricane approaches the U.S.,” said a NOAA tweet.

“While it is too soon to determine the exact timing, location and magnitude of these impacts, interest at the coast and inland from South Carolina into the mid-Atlantic region should closely monitor the progress of Florence,” said a NOAA statement.

Hurricane #Florence will wobble along its course to North Carolina coastline over the next few days.

The storm will increase in size and the wind field will affect a large section of coastline. The storm surge and waves will arrive ahead of time.

U.S. Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement on Monday that President Donald Trump had a 3 p.m. briefing call at the White House about Hurricane Florence with the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“This latest briefing is part of the President’s monitoring of multiple storms that are predicted to affect the U.S. in the coming days,” Sanders said in the statement, adding that the White House is in contact with governor’s offices in all the areas affected, including the Carolinas.

“The federal government stands ready to assist,” she said. “These tropical storms and hurricanes are very dangerous.”

“To the incredible citizens of North Carolina, South Carolina and the entire East Coast - the storm looks very bad! Please take all necessary precautions. We have already began mobilizing our assets to respond accordingly, and we are here for you!”

Later Monday Trump declared an emergency exists in North Carolina and ordered “federal assistance to supplement the state,” according to a statement from the White House.